UK December 2014: Vauxhall Corsa ends 21-month Fiesta reign, Mini up to 4th, Vauxhall Mokka breaks record

Vauxhall Corsa

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and Top 40 All-brands by clicking on the title *

The UK new car market continues on its incredible run, lodging a 34th consecutive month of year-on-year growth in December at +9% to 166,198 registrations, bringing the annual total to 2.475 million units, the best in a decade. Lots of movement in the models ranking in incentive-biased December. A combination of heavy discounts on the outgoing generation and the new models starting to trickle into dealerships, the Vauxhall Corsa manages to end 21 consecutive months of Ford Fiesta wins thanks to sales up 26% year-on-year to 8,074 and 4.9% share vs. 7,507 and 4.5% for the Fiesta (-12%).

The Mini is at its highest in the UK since its relaunch in 2000.

The Ford Focus is up one spot on November to #3 while the Mini takes advantage of the 5-door variant that comes with the new generation to shoot up to #4 with 5,375 sales and 3.2%, no less than the Mini’s highest ranking since its revival launched 15 years ago, also reached in December 2010. For its part the Vauxhall Mokka is back in the UK Top 10 for only the second time ever after last May, absolutely and positively smashing its ranking and share records at #6 and 2.5% thanks to 4,099 sales (previous bests: #10 and 1.5%). Notice also the Nissan Juke outselling its Sutherland factory buddy the Qashqai for the 2nd time ever after last October, this time by almost 300 units.

The Vauxhall Mokka shoots up to a best-ever 6th place in December.

As a result and like in December 2013, Vauxhall brilliantly takes the lead of the brands ranking with 23,162 sales and 13.9% share (+9%), knocking perennial leader Ford down to #2 at 20,509 units and 12.3% (+5%). Volkswagen (#3) and BMW (#4) hold onto their November ranking while Nissan (+24%) overtakes Audi to lift up to #5. Further down, we witness the spectacular takeoff of Mini slicing its November ranking in two to #8 thanks to sales up 79% year-on-year to 7,172 units. Think adding a 5-door variant of the Mini hatch was a good idea? Yessir. Notice also Citroen up 34%, Land Rover up 21%, Mitsubishi up 79%, Jaguar up 37% and Jeep up 68%.

Previous month: UK November 2014: VW Golf #2, Mercedes C-Class in Top 10

One year ago: UK December 2013: Vauxhall Insignia remains #6 in market up 24%

Full December 2014 Top 10 models and Top 40 All-brands Ranking Tables below.